Sir Peter Jackson, Marlborough

A fusion of old skills with new technology

When the cast of The Lord of the Rings faced off against legions of orcs, their foes were digitally created, yet the weapons, costumes and armour they wore were often hand-crafted and forged using traditional techniques.

It is this marriage of modern technological skill with traditional prop-making art and craft that has produced the results that skyrocketed Weta to global fame.

Co-founded almost 30 years ago in 1987 by Sir Richard Taylor, Weta Workshop is at the centre of Wellington's status as an artistic hub of New Zealand, drawing the cream of the crop of artists from around New Zealand and the world to work together creating movie magic that defies belief.

Trolls on show, Wellington

By Weta Workshop

Visit the Weta Cave and workshop

Weta Workshop has worked on a wide range of TV series and movies, but it was Sir Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings Trilogy that catapulted the workshop to global fame, making the workshop an attraction in its own right.

Weta Workshop now runs the showroom Weta Cave and workshop, where fans can see props from their favourite movies or join a behind-the-scenes tour to see how the magic was made.

We have access to some of the most extraordinary thinkers and doers on the planet – the technicians of the New Zealand film industry. The cross-disciplinary capabilities of our team has allowed us... getting New Zealand art and creativity out to the world